Mr Aikman was diagnosed with MND while working as director of research for the Better Together campaign ahead of the Scottish independence referendum.

He went on to win cross-party support for his Gordon's Fightback campaign, calling for funding to find a cure for MND and specialist nursing care.

Lawrence Cowan, a close friend of Mr Aikman and the chairman of MND Scotland, said: "Gordon's campaigning transformed MND care in Scotland. With this scholarship we can help inspire people to keep transforming MND care for years to come.

"It will help bring people together, try new things and ultimately improve how we fight back against this cruel disease."

'Find a cure'

Gordon's husband, ITV journalist Joe Pike, said: "We are delighted that this scholarship will continue Gordon's legacy. We must also work hard to make Scotland an international centre for clinical trials into MND.

"It is vital we find a cure for the disease that robbed Gordon of his future, and continues to affect hundreds of families across the country."

Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system, leading to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting.

As the condition progresses, patients find physical tasks such as walking, speaking, swallowing and breathing increasingly difficult- and eventually they may become impossible.

The Scottish government said the Gordon Aikman Scholarship will be open to health and social care professionals, as well as those affected by MND and their carers.